Styx

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Styx /ˈstɪks/ is an American rock band from Chicago that formed in 1972 and became famous for its albums released in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known for melding the style of pop rock and hard rock with the power of a hard-rock guitar balanced with acoustic guitar, synthesizers mixed with acoustic piano, upbeat tracks with power ballads, and incorporating elements of international musical theatre.

Styx is best known for the hit songs "Lady", "Come Sail Away", "Babe", "The Best of Times", "Too Much Time on My Hands" and "Mr. Roboto". Other major hits include "Show Me the Way", "Don't Let It End", and "Renegade". Styx has had 4 consecutive albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA  as well as 16 top 40 singles in the US, 8 of which hit the top 10.

At 12 years of age, twin brothers Chuck (bass) and John Panozzo (drums) first got together with their 14 year old neighbor Dennis DeYoung (vocals and keyboards) while living in the Roseland area, eventually taking the band name "The Tradewinds." Chuck Panozzo left to attend seminary school for a year but returned to the group by 1964.

Tom Nardini had been brought in to replace Chuck on guitar and Chuck decided to play bass guitar when he returned to the band. John Panozzo was one of their first drummers, while Dennis DeYoung had switched from accordion to organ and piano. In 1965, the name "Tradewinds" was changed to TW4 (There Were 4)  after another band called the Trade Winds broke through nationally.

By 1966, the Panozzo brothers had joined DeYoung at Chicago State College and kept the group together doing gigs at high schools and frat parties while studying to be teachers. In 1969 they added a college friend, John Curulewski, on guitar after Tom Nardini departed. Guitarist James "J.Y." Young came aboard in 1970 making TW4 a quintet.

In 1972 the band members decided to choose a new name when they signed to Wooden Nickel Records after being spotted by a talent scout at a concert at St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs, Illinois, James Young's home town. Several suggestions were made and, according to DeYoung, the name Styx was chosen because it was "the only one that none of us hated".

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Qs8-BkiLw

"Boat on the River" is a 1979 song by Styx, from their album Cornerstone. It was released as a single in 1980, but did not chart in the band's native United States. However, it was popular in several German-speaking countries, becoming a top-five hit on the German, Austrian and Swiss charts (reaching number one on the latter.)

The song features Tommy Shaw on lead vocals and mandolin, with Dennis DeYoung accompanying on accordion and backing vocals. In the video for the song, Chuck Panozzo, John Panozzo, and James Young play bowed double bass, tambourine/bass drum and acoustic guitar respectively.

Allmusic reviewer Mike DeGagne praised both "Boat on the River" and fellow Cornerstone single "Lights" retrospectively for their "silky harmonies and welcoming choruses." While not as big of a hit as "Babe" (which hit #1 in the US), the song was Styx's biggest European hit.

The song has been covered by Cat Stevens, Seventh Avenue, Guano Apes, and Riki Sorsa in Finland.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16VSqbj9meA

A remake of this great song and here the complete set of the song